SPARTAEUS KARIGIRI

Spartaeus karigiri is a newly discovered species of jumping spider from the Karigiri region in Karnataka, marking the first record of the Spartaeus genus in India. Found also in Tamil Nadu, it highlights a significant range extension from Southeast Asia and enriches India’s spider biodiversity.

Description

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Context:

Researchers from Chennai have discovered a new species of jumping spider, ‘Spartaeus karigiri’, belonging to the Spartaeinae subfamily.

About Spartaeus karigiri:

Aspect	Details
Family	Salticidae (Jumping Spiders)
Subfamily	Spartaeinae
Genus	Spartaeus
Discovery Location	Karigiri (Elephant Hill), Devarayanadurga, Karnataka
Etymology	Named after Karigiri, the location of its discovery
Range Extension	First record of Spartaeus genus in India; earlier known only from Southeast Asia
Additional Records	Also found in Villupuram district, Tamil Nadu
Habitat	Rocky outcrops and forested terrain; prefers crevices and protected microhabitats
Hunting Behavior	Likely uses web invasion and prey mimicry; exhibits intelligent predation
Significance	Extends the known distribution of the genus and adds to India’s spider biodiversity